Shopping at Supermarkets

Pomegranates are not often seen in supermarkets but there were some yesterday. I couldn't get near the shelf that was holding the fruits. A lady and her maid were there ahead of me and they were trying to get some squeezing almost every fruit. I gave up in the end.

When out shopping at supermarkets, I'd make it a point never to go near closing time for obvious reasons. Even though more checkout counters would be open for service, the queues outdo the cashiers as the lines get longer than the cashiers can clear them.

And God-forbid if there is a hiccup such as an item not having a price-tag or an argument on pricing or worse still if there is a power failure. Have you ever encountered this scenario? I do wonder if barcode scanners would still work with the inhouse generator. If they don't, we would all have to abandon our purchases. What a letdown..

Food! Glorious Food!

I just passed up on an invitation to join a few girlfriends for another weekend outing, more like a food-bingeing session. Don't get me wrong. I love these outings and playing catch-up but not this weekend. After so many nights the pass week of food outings, I think I just need to stay in and just give my digestive system a break. I now see why some of my colleagues go for their colon cleanse and detox sessions once in a while.

On the subject of food, Astro Ch 707 (Travel & Living) has a new show titled "Man V. Food" and I don't have to tell you what it is. The episode I saw this morning is about this 21oz-sandwich of slices of turkey, ham, cheese, onions, pickles between a thick bun. And there are fries to go with it.

This restaurant that serves this sandwich calls it a Dagwood and whoever is able to finish that giant sandwich within 30 minutes get to stick his picture with a prized Dagwood t-shirt (compliments of the restaurant) on the Wall of Fame in the restaurant. This tv-host challenger (forgotten his name) made it, so his picture is now among the hundreds on the wall. This is in the U.S.

No wonder the cliche, Food! Glorious Food!

I hope you'll have a wonderful Sunday..

Of Robberies and Shooting at Fort Hood

I just heard of two cases of robbery (snatch theft) in Kuala Lumpur. One happened in Kepong in a lift of a highrise flat. A lady was in the lift and the door opened on the first floor, a young man came in and in a split second her handbag was snatched away by the young man. She had RM900 with her plus other documents.

The other incident happened in Wangsa Maju involving a roadside motorcyclist snatching the handbag of another lady. After the incident, he was found eating at a teh tarik foodstall nearby. Not sure if he was caught there. This was reported in a Chinese language daily.

I'm sure there were other robberies which involved the use of weapons such as parang (long knives) but I suppose, parang is the lesser evil as compared to firearms as in the case of the recent rampage by Major Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood in Texas with 13 dead and a lot more injured. In times like these, life insurance comes to mind. Are we adequately insured such that the loved ones we leave behind are taken care of in the event of something unfortunate happening?

Travel Insurance Gives You Peace of Mind

Air Asia has made it possible for more people to travel on holiday several times a year. A colleague makes it a point to make bookings when Air Asia gives out "Zero Fare" tickets.

His trips would coincide with the school holidays so that they could travel as a family, his children being still in school.

Travel may be fun but some protection is needed in case of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. Trip Protection Insurance plans typically reimburse you for pre-paid non-refundable travel expenses if an unexpected crises (e.g., death of a family member, sickness, airline strike, travel supplier bankruptcy, among other crises) occurs before or during your trip causing it to be cancelled, interrupted or delayed.

For that peace of mind before you travel next, get an travel insurance quote and sign up for that protection. It pays to be prepared because you never know what will happen on a trip.

Carrefour Market Going Green

Well, it's about time! Going green all the way, Carrefour's new outlet, Carrefour Market, at the Sphere in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur, has implemented its no-plastic-bag policy starting last week.

I'd have to bring a few more recyclable bags if I were to be shopping like the models below. I have stocked up a few of these bags but probably will need more (before prices go up based on demand).

Do you bring your own recyclable bag(s)?

Friday Frolics - What Fall Fruit or Vegetable Are You Most Like?

I didn't know apples are a Fall fruit. Over here, fruits have their seasons. We can go for months without a mango on the store shelf nor a rambutan or durian but strangely, we get apples here all-year-round. Interesting!

By the way, this quiz here says I'm an Apple.. What are you?

You Are Apples

You have simple tastes in food, and you appreciate a basic, clean flavor. You don't think eating or cooking should be complicated. In fact, you're really not one for cooking much at all. Your best meals come together quickly and don't require many ingredients. If anything, you're the type of person who's more likely to pull out the oven mitts and bake every so often. Chocolate chip cookies are one of your favorite things to smell baking, and it goes without saying that you love apple pie.

What Fall Fruit or Vegetable Are You Most Like?

There is a Quiz for Almost Everything

How to Suppress Appetite for Food

According to the Chinese community, one should not refuse or shun food as to be able to eat is a blessing. And with that in mind, many of us have turned into gluttons and having a broader mid-section to show for it.

We all know that anything in excess is harmful, food included. Perhaps what some of us need is an appetite suppressant to at least curb our food-craving ways. Or perhaps pick up smoking and/or drink lots of coffee. I hear smoking and caffeine suppress appetite. Maybe not, let's just stick to good old-fashioned discipline.

Of Steam Iron and Steam Cleaners

Steam does wonders. The other day at a Homelife exhibition, I almost bought a steam iron, you know the type that you can just go over the crinkled fabric and voila! it's all smooth and ironed out. Sometimes I wonder if it really works that well or is it just a magic trick that only the sales personnel is trained to do.

Homes with wall-to-wall carpeting definitely can do with steam cleaners or at least one at home. Carpets are landing pads for dust and over time, they become homes for dust-mites, the cause of a host of health problems.